Heathcote Primary Health
About
Heathcote Primary Health is committed to providing the highest quality medical care to our patients. We deliver ethical, consistent, timely and comprehensive medical care encompassing family medicine, emergency care and preventative health strategies.
Heathcote Primary Health puts the welfare of the community at the forefront of all that we do and strive to continue delivering the best medical service possible.
Contact
39 Hospital Street, Heathcote, Victoria 3523
Phone: (03) 5431 0888
Fax: (03) 5431 0890
Email: doctor@heathcotehealth.org
Office Hours:
Monday - 9:00am - 5:00pm
Tuesday - 9:00am - 5:00pm
Wednesday - 9:00am - 5:00pm
Thursday - 9:00am - 5:00pm
Friday - 9:00am - 5:00pm
For After-Hours and weekend service, please phone the practice and follow the prompts to speak to the GP on call.
Pathology Service
Monday - Friday: 8:30AM - 3:30PM
General Practitioners
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Practice Principal / General Practitioner
Dr Maureen Siapno has worked in a variety of fields after graduating in the Philippines. She has worked in Gisborne, Echuca and Monash Health, and most recently as a General Practitioner at out Rochester clinic, Campaspe Medical Centre.
Dr Maureen enjoys spending her time reading books and travelling when not in clinic. Dr Maureen loves the diversity on offer in general practice and is looking forward to continuing her career at Heathcote Primary Heath.
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
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General Practitioner
Dr Bree Cumming grew up in Central Victoria and has completed her medical degree at University of
Tasmania. She has trained as a junior doctor in Tasmania and back locally at Bendigo Health,
completing hospital terms in Paediatrics, psychiatry, obstetrics and gynaecology.Bree returns to Central Victoria with her family and is looking forward to pursuing a career as a rural GP. A country girl at heart, Bree is passionate about the future healthcare in rural communities and has special interests in Women’s and Children’s health.
Wednesday & Thursday
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General Practitioner
Dr Pradeep Pokharel graduated from Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Nepal, and a Masters in
Public Health at Loma Linda University, California, before moving to Australia in 2010. He started working as a resident in 2012 at Latrobe regional Hospital, before moving to Hervey Bay Hospital in Queensland. Pradeep started working as a GP/VMO at Orbost Regional Health in rural Victoria, September 2016 until June 2018. He made the move to Heathcote Primary Health in June 2019.Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday
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General Practitioner
Dr Noel Siapno has worked in a variety of fields in Gisborne, Echuca and Monash Health, and most recently as a General Practitioner at out Rochester clinic, Campaspe Medical Centre. Dr Noel thoroughly enjoys running in his spare time, even completing many marathons. Dr Noel loves the diversity on offer in general practice and is looking forward to continuing his career and Heathcote Primary Heath
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
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General Practitioner
Dr David Anderson graduated from Monash University in 2008. He enjoys all aspects of general practice including geriatric care/care of the elderly, children’s health, and management of chronic diseases. Dr Anderson has completed additional training in fertility awareness methods of natural family planning and is a current Creighton Model Practitioner.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday
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Raghbendra Thakur is a medical professional with extensive clinical and public health experience across Nepal, India and Australia. He completed his MBBS from Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India, in 2013, and later pursued a Master of Public Health (MPH) from Macquarie University, Sydney, in 2020.
He has worked in diverse healthcare settings, including North West Regional Hospital, Burnie, Tasmania, from 2022 to 2025, followed by his role at The Northern Hospital from 2025 to 2026. His experience spans acute care and regional health services, reflecting a strong commitment to patient care and population health.
Outside of his professional work, Raghbendra enjoys playing cricket, watching sports, and watching movies, maintaining a balanced lifestyle alongside his medical career.
Monday-Friday
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General Practitioner
Dr Tanya Howley completed a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery at The University of Melbourne in
2004.Tanya is a highly skilled clinician and brings extensive experience with her, much of this in rural and remote areas of Australia. Tanya enjoys the variety of work in general practice and has interests
in travel medicine, antenatal care, paediatrics, preventative care and chronic disease management.Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
Practice Nurses
Julie
Naomi
Practice Nurse
Practice Nurse
Rosemary
Practice Nurse
Amanda
Practice Nurse
Just Fit Physio
Justine O’Bree
Physiotherapist
Tuesdays
Medical Receptionist
Michelle
Adele
Practice Manager
Receptionist
Heidi
Leanne
Receptionist
Receptionist
Elyse
Elecia
Receptionist
Deputy Practice Manager
Tayla
Receptionist
Emarnee
Receptionist
Fees
CHANGES TO FEES FROM 1st November 2025
This practice is now a bulk-billing clinic, under the Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program (BBPIP)
Important Notice: Bulk Billing and Appointment Changes
Due to recent government changes, our clinic has transitioned to bulk billing for the following:
GP Consultations
Chronic Condition Management Plans and Reviews
Mental Health Treatment Plans
Health Assessments
To support this change and ensure fair access for all patients, we have updated our appointment structure:
Each standard appointment is for one medical issue only
Patients requiring additional services (e.g. a prescription plus paperwork) will need to book multiple appointments.
Please note fees may apply for non-eligible services, including:
Procedures like skin excisions
Diagnostic services like ECG and pathology
Allied Health and other non-GP services
Non-MBS services
Patients without a Medicare Card Number
Our reception team can provide details regarding any applicable fees.
| undefined | Bulk-Billing | |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Consultation - 15mins | $43.90 | |
| Long Consultation - 30mins | $84.90 | |
| Prolonged Consultation - 45mins | $125.10 | |
| Out of Hours - After 5pm to 8:30am & Weekends | $151.45 | |
| Failure to Attend | $50 |
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• Cervical Screening Tests
• Holter Monitoring (CVC)
• ECG
• Health Assessments
• Immunisations
• Minor operations and procedures
• Pathology
• Pre-employment medicals
• Travel Medicine
• Physiotherapy
• Podiatry -
New patients will need to ring our professional reception team to organise an initial consultation.
Please notify us if you are unable to keep your appointment a minimum of 12 hours prior, to avoid a late cancellation fee.
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Benefits
It is voluntary and free to register in MyMedicare.When you register in MyMedicare, it will notify your general practice that you have chosen them as your regular care team. Additional funding will be available from the government to help them provide the care you need.
MyMedicare patients will have access to:
Greater continuity of care with your registered practice, improving health outcomes
Longer Medicare Benefit Scheme (MBS) funded telehealth consultations with your GP
Triple bulk billing incentive for longer MBS telehealth consultations for children under 16, pensioners, and concession card holders, from 1 November 2023
More regular visits from your GP and better care planning for people living in a residential aged care home, from August 2024
Connections to more appropriate care in general practice for people who visit hospital frequently, from mid-2024.
If you choose not to register in MyMedicare, you’ll still be able to access the same quality of care from your healthcare providers.
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Telehealth/Phone Consultation allows you to consult a healthcare provider by video/phone call. Our practice can provide telephone consultations if you do not require to physically see the doctor. To organise a telehealth consultation, please contact the clinic to arrange your appointment.
Telehealth Consultation:
- Make sure the practice has your correct number or email address.
- Check your phone/computer camera is working at least 10 minutes prior to the consultation.
- Write down a list of things you wish to discuss and have a pen handy to write down instructions.
- Have your medications in front of you and know which pharmacy you usually go to for scripts.
- Your doctor will SMS a link to your mobile phone once they are ready for you. If you do not have a smartphone, the link can be sent to your email address.
- Please stay by your phone and watch out for our message - be available for up to 45 mins post your appointment time.
- Click the link and follow the prompts, the link will take you to a safe encrypted network called Healthdirect. Your doctor will be waiting for you in the virtual waiting room.
- If you get disconnected, please wait for us to return the call.
Phone Consultation:
- Make sure the practice has your correct number.
- Check your phone is working at least 10 minutes prior to the consultation.
- Write down a list of things you wish to discuss and have a pen handy to write down instructions.
- Have your medications in front of you and know which pharmacy you usually go to for scripts.
- Please stay by your phone and watch out for our call - be available for up to 45 mins post your appointment time.
- Your doctor will call your mobile phone from a "no-caller ID" number.
- If you get disconnected, please wait for us to return the call.
To access phone and video consults, you must have been seen face to face in the clinic during the past 12 months. If you are unsure if you are eligible, please contact your practice, as your doctor may need to see you in person.
Other Telehealth / Phone Consultations:
• Can be used for Work Cover and TAC consults.
• GP Management Plans (Care Plans) can only be done as a video consult (not phone), as per Medicare.
• An initial Mental Health Plan can only be done as a video consult (not phone), as per Medicare.
• Mental Health Plan reviews can be done as a video or phone consult, as per Medicare.